Kosovo Challenges on the EU integration in the field of labor market

Abstract

Kosovo is a new state in the Balkans that derived from the nonconsensual dissolution of former federation of Yugoslavia. It is the last state created from this process after Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. The process of creation of Kosovo as a state is different compared to the aforementioned states, among the others due to the position it had within federation, due to the political developments, due to the engagement of the international community, etc. This unique process of creation of the Kosovo state made the process of EU integration unique as well. Criteria and standards for the state of Kosovo in various ways is also different compared to other states created from the process of dissolution of Yugoslavia. The process of EU integration of Kosovo has started whereas Kosovo has to fulfill additional criteria compared to the other states of the Balkans. These criteria have an impact in all developments within Kosovo and in the report between Kosovo and other countries, as well. These criteria also have a big impact in the labor market no matter how Kosovo has managed to harmonize its legislation respecting EU legislation and the community acquis. The paper deals with the challenges Kosovo faces in the process of integration in the field of labor market/law and with the standards and legal infrastructure it has created. Kosovo remains to be the most isolated country in Europe and the isolation appears to be one of the factors that has an impact in the high unemployment rate. Paper aims to stress out that politics should not be top priority agenda for EU and Kosovo Institutions. At the end paper gives some recommendations on how to meet challenges of reducing unemployment rate and reducing poverty in Kosovo.